Carpet-stretcher.



J; A. G. SEYBOLD.

CARPET STRETGHBR.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 1a, 1911.

Patented May 28, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

coLuMmA PLANOURAPH Co..WAsHlNa-roN, n. c.

J. A. G. SEYBOLD.

CARPET STRBTGHBR.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 18, 1911.

1,027,914. Patented May 28, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

COLUMBIA PLANQGRAPM co.. WASHINGTON, D. c.

JAMES A. Gr. SEYBOVLD, OF HARVARD, NEBRASKA.

CARPET-STRETCHER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 28, 11912.

Application led .Tuly 18, `19711. Serial No. 639,108.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JAMES A. G. SEYBOLD, acitizen of the United States, residing at Harvard, in the county of Clayand State of Nebraska, have invented new and useful Improvements inCarpet-Stretchers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to carpet stretchers and one of the principalobjects of the invention is the provision of a device of this characterwhich will lie close to the floor and which will operate to stretch thecarpet at both ends or sides.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a carpet stretcherhaving two telescope ends with carpet engaging members arranged thereonand an intermediate section adapted to adjust the ends away from eachother, so as to stretch the carpet after the gripping devices have beenproperly located by extending the end members to the required degree.

A still further object of the invent-ion is the provision of a device ofthis character wherein the gripping members are provided with means forregulating the depth of insertion of the teeth into the carpet so thatlight and heavy fabrics may be operated upon with equal results.

Further objects ofthe invention will appear as the following specificdescription is read in connection with the accompanying drawings, whichform a part of this application, and in which Figure 1 is a sideelevation. Fig. 2 is a top plan view. Fig. 3 is a detail longitudinalsection. Fig. 4 is a detail top plan view of one of the grippingsurfaces. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a modified form. Fig. 6 is a topplan view thereof. Fig. 7 is a detail horizontal longitudinal section.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Figs. 1 to 4, eachend of the device is composed of a pair of telescoping sections 1 and 2,the section 2 telescoping within the section 1 and being provided with aplurality of holes 3 which are engaged by spring pressed latches 4pivoted upon the ears 5 secured to the section 1. If preferable, thesection 2 may also have a latch, as shown at 6, so as to receive the endof the gripping device supporting tube 7. This supporting tube isconnected to the gripping device by a union 8 and is preferably rivetedto the section 2, as shown in Fig. 3. One

end may be treated, as shown in Fig. 3, by riveting the supporting tube7 to the section 2 and the opposite end may be arranged as shown in Fig.1 wherein, at one end of the device, the section or supporting tube 7 isadjustably mounted in section 2 and in the opposite end the supportingtube7 is riveted to the section 2. The gripping device at each endcomprises a curved plate having a plurality of elongated teeth 9extending outwardly and downwardly so as to engage the carpet beingstretched. In order to regulate the depth of engagement of the teeth aplate 10 is adjustably secured to the underneath side of the arm bymeans of a bolt 11 which operates in the slot 12. The plate has its rearend adjustably engaged with one of a series of rack teeth. 13 so thatwhen in engagement with the rear tooth of the series the full length ofthe teeth `will be exposed and when engaged with the forward tooth ofthe series only a short length of tooth will be exposed. Therefore theteeth will not enter the carpet'to any great extent. vIn one of theinner sections or tubes there are mounted at its end guiding blocks 14between which is slidably mounted a rack bar 15 with teeth upon oppositesides thereof arranged in staggered relation. Suitable plates 16 aresecured to the sides of the section and extend beyond the end thereof onopposite sides of the rack bar 15 and pivoted to these plates are theopposite legs 17 of a bifurcated operating lever 18. This lever carriesa pair of spring actuated dogs .19 which are adapted to alternatelyengage the teeth upon the opposite sides of the rack bar, so that it maybe properly moved out of the section in which it is slidably mounted.The opposite end of the rack bar is riveted to the opposite section 1between filler plates 20. In order that the rack bar may be telescopedwithin its proper section, the dogs 19 are provided with rearwardlyextending outwardly curved lingers 21 by which they may besimultaneously released from the teeth of the rack bar.

In using the device the separate sections of the respective ends of thedevice are extended to the required degree and the gripping devicesengaged with the carpet also to the required degree by adjusting theplate 10 for the weight of the particular carpet being operated upon.The lever 18 is then reciprocated and the rack bar forced out of thesection 1 which it operates, thus separating the inner sections l andproperly stretching the carpet.

The tubular sections may be of any cross sectional formation.

In the modification shown in Figs. 5 to 7, 22 shows a tubular section inwhich is slidably mounted a bar 23 having its opposite end rigidlyconnected to a similar bar 24. The bar 24 is adjustably connected to abar 25 which is provided with a longitudinal slot 26 adapted to receivethe clamping bolt 27 carried by the bar 24 and also a rivet 28 carriedby the bar 24 in advance of the clamping bolt 27. The outer end of thebar 26 is preferably reduced and threaded so as to connect the clampingbar 29 by means of a union 30. The clamping' member 29 is similar in allrespects to the clamping member described in Figs. l to 4 and thereforeneeds no further description. The opposite end of the tubular bar 22 haspassing therethrough a clamping bolt 31 and a rivet 32 which are adaptedto operate in a slot 33 formed in the adjusting bar 34. The opposite endof the adjusting bar is provided with a rivet 35 and a clamping bolt 36upon which the end bar 37, also provided with a slot, is adapted tooperate. This end bar is reduced so as to connect with thegrippingmember 39 by means of a union 40. In each instance where therivets are employed clamping screws, such as those shown at 27, 31,etc., may be substituted. A bifurcated lever 4l straddles the inner endof the tubular bar 22 and is pivoted to the same, as shown at 42. Uponopposite sides of the bar 22 there are pivoted to the lever suitablelinks 43 and 44, both carrying gripping` members 45 which surround thebar 23 and in their retrograde movement abut against shoulders 46 formedupon the ends of lthe links. In their forward movement they tilt uponthe bar 23 and grip the same, as shown, to force it out of the tubularmember 22. IVhen the bars, such as 24, 25 or 22, 23, have been adjustedapart, the lever 41 is reciprocated to force the bar 24 out of the tube22.

In both types of the device the sections lie in substantially parallelplanes with the carpet to be stretched and each end is properlyadjusted, so that the gripping devices will engage the sides or endofthe carpet and the lever then operated to stretch the carpet to therequired degree. Also in each structure the end sections have securedthereto the adjustable carpet gripping members which, as before stated,arevadapted to operate with equally good results upon both light andheavy carpets, the penetration of the grippingteeth being controlled bythe adjusting plate.

IVith this type of device, after the lever has been operated and theVcarpet stretched, the same operator can tack the carpet in' its placeand then release the stretcher. This type therefore has advantages whichare not found in the toggle type stretchers.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new is In a carpetstretcher, adjustable stretching members, a head thereon having carpetengaging teeth, a plate adj ustably secured to the under side of thehead and overlapping the teeth to control the depth of engagementthereof, and a rack carried by the head and adjustably engaging theplate for holding it in adjusted position.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES A. G. SEYBLD.

Vit-nesses y PAUL E. BosLAUGi-I, EDNA ROBERTSON.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, ID. C.

